The Sun. — London, England, 1864-12-15 00:00:00

.2.IfARKET XONEY AND CO] M.ORCUAL InTELLIGENCE, CITY, TWELVE O'CLOCK. Iit: DUCTION IN THE RATE OF DISCOUNT. The directorti of the Bank of England have just The their 'rate of discount from 7 to 6 per cent. 14 ( Uion?) cement of this alteration took a large lititnber of the commercial public by surprise, be. ea ll'a there is a well-founded belief that in the e3 nree of a week or two a revival of speculation 411 37 be expected, and money will shortly be re (l4ired, in large amounts, to transmit to the East for' Payment of cotton. The prospect, therefore, of an ne favourable specie . movement, arising at 11 ° distant date, only induced few persons to ' ant icipate a reducticn in the offi c i a l m i n i mum Ithis Week. It had been known for some time that, 4l though there has been an active inquiry for dis el)4ut accommodation, the natio na l es t a bli s h men t h as not transacted the large business usual at this Period, and in order fully to partake of the bills b ought into circulation, the directors of the Bank of England have lowered their rate to a point that for the moment admit of little successful corn- Petition out of doors. Since the notification of the chan ge th ere h as be en a good inquiry for money and the rates in the T he market have ranged from 5: and 6 per cent. ,„,* ( he National Discount Comp a ny, M essrs O veren d, ‘Nrney and Co., and Messrs Alexander, Cunliffe a nd Co., have reduced their allowance of interest on de Posit accounts from 5 to 51- per cent, for money 5 ,,t Call f rom 5.1 to 5 per cent. for 7 days' notice, an d 'Qua 6 to 54 per cent. for 14 days' notice of with drawal. The directors of the Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China have a-,nounced a d ,ividend of 10 p er c en t., f ree o f i ncome t ax , f or t h e 411 1-year ending the 31st inst., to be paid on and after the 21 of January next. This amount, to feelher w i t h th e pa y men t ma d e on the I st o f J uly at, Will constitute a distribution of profits at the ta.te of 20 per cent. per annum on the paid up of the batik. - Two O'CLOCK. At Paris, this day, according to Mr. Renter's a6. e legram, the 3 p er ce nt. French Rentes were ' l6 f. 20c. Heavy. L The English Stock Market has not been influ• Peed ve r y muc h by the alteratio n i n th e rate o f 16 e0unt. Had the event happened at any oth er 14lt aa when business was not, as now , b e i ng cur t a il e d, il substantial improvement might have been ex. tj ti e eted. The Funds rallied a littl e f or a w hil e , b u t i lt finately returned to the prices current last even -1)g, and Consols for money are 891 1, and for the b ee eunt 8911. The New Threes and Reduced An. ti ! l ities are 881 1; March Exchequer Bills, ss. to Is. ; India 5 per Cents., 1021 103; and Deben '4ree, 97 1 -, 14 the Foreign Mirka there has been rather more u sihees, bat prices have not varied materially. Turkish 6 per Cents., 1862, are 711 72 ; do. Conso. ac s 471 476; Mexican, 291 ; do. New, 271 1i t s ! r eek, 221 231 ; Spanish P ass i ve , 311 ; do. Cer. 14 141; the Confederate Loan, 61 63; Danubian, 1 die. to par.; and the Egyptian, +. prem. Business in the Rtil way Share Market has been 4 4t her inactive, although iu some instan ces p r i ces B te a shade firmer. South Eastern have improved 31 and Metropolitan, North Western, and Brigh. to n, each lo s . th ' rhe Foreign and Colonial lines remain without tli 'ge of importance. ank and Miscellaneous Shares are dull. Union 01 .13 London, however, have improved to 56 57; Im.. „ F R tial Bank to 311 1. Alliance have declined to ; General Credit and Financial realise 61 7 ; Odson Bay. Company, 161:; and Crystal Palace 'to*, 321. BRITISH FUNDS—ONE O'CLOCK, 40 vBRIIMENT FUNDS. per Cent. Consols z 110 Account, Jan. 10 \Per Cent. Reduced B.l i 'Ev r , New 3 per Cent e W 2} per Cent. Jan. 1894... .. 4, ° 6 per Cent., Jan. 1873 — 741iities, 30 yrs, taxpire iith Jan., 1880 — for 30 yrs, expire sth April, 1885 — 4 -0 (Red Sea Telegraph), Aug. 1908 — Cis ° Bills, £l,OOO, 4 per Cent 5l as .1) 0 £5OO R. 1) 1, and £2OO .. — l 'ijk Ragland Stk, 61 per Ct. — 10 Account — 1) 1 4 ) 16.N GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. D Stock, 10i per Cent., April 1871 shut k ib , 2 Account 4 ) „' ° per Cent. July, 1870 13 - Account — " 4 Per Cent., Oct, 1888... Da L o u ert iti on t os 1 .) ° „ 1 per Cent. (Deferred 3 per Cent.) C o ti Pei Cent. b o pranced Paper, 4 per Cent .. -- b a 4 per Cent., Jan. 1872 .. , A 6 i per Cent., May, 1879 .. 0 0 .'„ Per Cent., Aug. 1866 De nuder Ll,OOO s tr: FOREIGN FUNDS-0 NE O'CLOCK. 44 0 ' 4 0 Bonds, 5 per Cent _ I) 440 6 per Cent @ Odi . 11 per Cent., 1852-58-60 P e -uo 1863 .. IP" A r 4 1 . o ik ,„ y es 6 per Cent . Ili, , 00unt... 00 1)4, 6 per Cent . . h lo u rh j, Per Cent .. nv:ian. 6 per Cent — bb o ,u per Cent. _ kV, Per Cent. 1864 D o ' 3 per Cent. , 1825 I X A 6 Per Cent, 1864 'ilo,` . ; Per Cent., 1773-77, £25 paid 1 pm 0, Or New Consolidated, 1 per Cent 4, 4 i rovisonal Land Warrant D° Second Blld - 1 4 4411 7 per C en t 941 ' - eoond o iss s ue b ° °(4 Do 1864 .. 94 1 'i t 'criP, £l5 paid k 1# pm , 0 A _p o er Cent., 1824-5, ex-Coupons — • ' l 6 C' o eo 41°0 A 4 1)0118 I tlte '. : CO Utit t i., !) 1.8 !la 5 per Cent - 14 1 1a 4 6 ')u and 1859 t ki Ni Per Cent.(Mareninuma itailsvay) o A 3 per Cent 4, ,,•ec o ount 6 ' . , er _ 1864 Jo fl t i . _. Cent. Anglo-French - die li'lo „: 41 1), £43 paid.... — die ).,, t 4 o , ri4 i relich Scrip, Ex. 25f 20c — die x d ~,, lmperial 5 per Cent Lo Granada iSb e ?er Cent. 0 t erred , bo t ad nt Warrants (Hectares) .. r, .r urea, 4 per Ct., April 1864 — q. 1. 101 37 do Aug., 1866 — .; Per 45_ per Cent . . Lo,, i Cent. (Uribarren) • • ro 4 1 Per Cent 1862 .. .. t !, l , e cuunt " ~110,ue„,,, 3 ha 4 _,_ o per Cent., 1853 01 :,'e lint • • , o, ene_roCent., 1856, '7, '9, '6O, 62;3. 6 — 104 hia.... , ._ unt • • Vo 0 0 per Cent 1822, £ St., Lk 2 Per Cent., 1850 .. 43 Per 1860 — o 6 Cent 1859 524 Vo Per Cent, 1862 V . R 1864 .1 , ,. ~e . .: ,t tl i, "P, £65 paid t h '2o . 4 l _ / 5 per Cent zolott'unt IP A, 4 Per Cent o 1) W e e calut — is o ~,,, N't Deferred b 11° 1) .' 4 1 °11 13. t I t _ti .4. _ , sive 4 ' e ° ll .nt ii t ltt % e a 311 p .iketo rt. of Coup not funded Ckii°l 4 uut .. 14 LANA per Cent. ,0,,k e. ., Per Cent. 1854 EBI eev-tiat .. ,k, ,, Cent. 1858 I? ta ) n tint 7O 11„ ° 6 1 „ u bonds ,t ) .,, n e : Cent. 1862 .4 4 ' I ( 7 l int ' 72 b, (1 44 Bonds., 7ll 2 P • , "' 18e 3 t atteed, 4 per Cent t)-mIPI Scrip, £4O paid •• • • • 0, • a _ _..._ be r eouri P t ur Cent. be ,, 4 ( t l t Cent., 1862 " 6 lint 5ll aft DP eciut I „ l'iridenp 1864 Vl t i:44, 5 "on the above payable in London 11 „ 1 c1 1 4 41 Per Cent., Ex 10 Florins. 10J0 21 Per Cent.,,.„ *„ _ I . 1,, Per C e _, -on. 25f tecilver uL., Ex. 12 Gtiil — IN item Cent, Certificates per Cent l'O A'_ 6 r , Pezl3 - 3 _ oi3 Al %e tit eat., 1861, Ex. 25 francs — (; '4140411,..8e0,116a.;:n0nd5, 4 5 per Ct.Ex 4s. • vet Cent Ex. 25f * 1 44 5, - TWO O'CLOCK. 11. i ko4 _t hrtt o a:. r •4 • 4.0 891 ***** tll , l 891 COLONIAL GOVERNMENT SECURITIES. - British Columbia, 6 per cent., Dec. 34 1872.... 100 - Do. • do. 1881... 100 - - • p.c.Ja 1877-81 97 99 98 3 / 4 00. p. c. Feb.& 100 97 99 - Do. 6p. c.Mar. & Sept 100 97 99 Do. tp. o. Jan.&July. 10( 87 89 88} - Do. 5 Inscribed stoat 100 86 89 ' .pe G.Hope, 6p 0,187: 100 (1.3 105 Do.Ap &Oct. 188( 100 (05 10; Do. 189 , iOO 1(6 108 - Co. Jan. & July. 1891.. 107 109 111 - ":;.eyion, N0v.1868, g p Nu 103 104 - Uo. 1878, do. 100 h 9 112 - (lauritius 6 p.cent.lB73 00 105 107 Do. 1878 10u 106 109 Do. 1882 100 1(6 108 natal Gov. 6 per cent.. 100 1 , .4 1(6 4..8.G0v. 6 p.c.Ja.&Jul) 100 98 101 • - ‘l, S.W. Gov. 5 p 1.,18 100 (8 100 - Du. sp. c.,18r1 to It:, I 100 95 97 - Do. d0.,1888 & upwdi, 180 94 86 941 5} N:ew Zealand 6 p cent 100 105 197 i ova Scotia Gov. 6 p. c . - sterling, 1875 .. 100 99 101 - lueensland Gcv. 6p. a 100 104 101 104 3 / 4 - Aus Gov. 6 p.e.lt 68- 100 - -- - Do. 1.76 & upward 4... 109 107 109 - tric.Gov. 6 p.c. Ja.&July 100 - - - Do. io 6 p.c. An.&061.. 100 106 3 / 4 107 3 / 4 BRITISH MINES. r 2 '!anibrian Consol. Gold 1 - Chiverton 3 6 7 3 / 4 - ,;(11.1ord Amalgamated. - 32 SS - )evon G. Con.. (Tavist. 1 580 000 - Drakewal;s..•... • ..... 2.1.0. I 1 L Bassett 41.1 47 43 - Caradon ...... 3.14. t 19 20 , ;ast earn 8rea........ 3.4.0 of 7 - East Grenville .• .. 2.7.0. 5 3 / 4 8 - East Lovell - (Tavistk. 6.13. 5 5 3 / 4 - Jam.&St.Aubyn(Gwen 60 5 7 4 Great Laxey, all 19 20 18 3 / 4 - rest South Tolgus.... i7N lb 2 - i. Wheal Vor(lielstoo 40 35 37 -irenville 7B. “. 3 / 4 - tlemd's-Foot 8.13 65 37 lingston Downs - Margaret (Ony Lelant 3 / 4 8 9 - rlarke Valley.. 4 dyndv Iron Oro (Lim. 4 14 Nangiles........ ....... /9 18 ‘,.0 - new Settm 2 1 3 /4 60 70 oorth Downs.. 3 - North Roskear.. 291 17 14) tylei tiaseet(lllo4so 3.1, .6 1 2 qorth Wheal Crofty . 2.8 0 2 2 - Prosper 2 3 - rovidenoe(Cny Lelni. 106.7 34 36 south Caradon(l3t.Cleer I} 20 540 i.Wheal Fran. (Mogan 15.18.4 33 36 - stray Park Vin Crort s 16 17 •-• West Basset (Illogan).. li, 7 9 WCr radon (Liskeard 9 . 5 6 - West Chiverton . 10 55 60 - West Beton • •-• • • ci 3 / 4 :,05 215 - Wheal Basset (Illogan 5 90 93 - Wheal Buller(Redruth, 10 9 it - Wheal Ludeott ........ - Wheal Mary Ann ;Men. 8 13 15 - Wheal 3eton 5 8 3 /4 195 200 _ Wheal Trelawney (Lie , 7 18 20 - Wheal Union 4 PREFERENCE SHARES. Great Eastern, E. Counties. Ext. No. 2, DUO., 6 p r cent. pf., 120 Great Western Orig. 41 per cent pf., 97 8 North Eastern, Cons. pref., 4 per cent., Ditto 4i per cent. red., 9)1 PREFEMENCE SHARES AND STOCKS. Great Eastern 4i per cent. pf., — Thitto, 5 per cent. pl, 99) . London, Chatham, &c., Metrop. Ext., C 6 por cent., 70} LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTAL*. Northern and Eastern 4; per cent.,1631 Nottngham and Grantham R. & U, 92 FOREIGN RAILWAYS. Great Luxembourg, 14 j Royal Sardinian, 4 Sambre and Meuse, 7* San Paulo (lim.),.gua. 7 per cent., 14 Ditto (all), 18i SHARE 111ARKETS,—This day. ORDINARY SHARES AND STOOKS. Railways. • r a id: Closing Business Price. dens. Mr.. Wol., and Str. Val all Blythe and Tyne. Bristol and Exeter Caledonian lOO Cork and Bandon a:l Cornwall all Do A / A gets no div, all till Spe.l? an.has! an Do. B been paid to B.' Dublin & Belfast June. all Dun.,Perth,&A.b. June. all Edinburgh & Glasgow. 100 CI I asg. and S. Western,.' 100 Great Eastern, Ord. stk' 100 Ditto A stook ' 100 Ditto EastAnglian at 100 GreatNorthof Scotland ; 100 Great Northern lOO Do A stock lOO Do 13 do Gt. S. anl W. of Deign i 100 Great Western,Original 100 Do Str Val gua. titOJA: 100 Do. South Wales 00 Do. West I.lld. --Oxford 100 Do Newport 10 0 Do Bereiord Ice Lancashire & Yorkshire; 160 London and Blackwail 100 Lon., Bright.,& S. Coast' 100 Lon., Chat., and Dover 100 Lon. & North Western 100 Lon. & Str,th Western 100 Man., She., & Lincoln. 100 Maryport and Carlisle. all Doi shares . all Metropolitan ' all Midland Do Birming. & Derby 100 laid. Gt. W. of Ireland all Do. shares Mid Kurt North British If din., Perth, & Dundee 100 Nth. Eastern—BerwicE 100 Do, G.N.E. purchase 16.13. Do Letds lOO Do York Do Carlisle lOO Do. Stock. & Darling all Do do 1855-58 "19 Do do 15it,..61 .... 12 North London • lOO Do New 7a Do New, 1861 North Statit,rnshire • . all N. and S. W. Junction all Scottish Central Scot N. E., Aber. stook 100 Do boot. Mid. stock lOO Shrews, and Weloltpool all Shropshire Union South Devon ..... 100 South Eastern Staines,Wok.,andWok all Taff Vale.. Do C Vale of Neath I Waterford & Kilkenny 100 West Cornwall lOO W. Hartlepool Harar,R ; 100 87 f 0 130 131 6 7 31 36 16 17 90 92 106 108 47 48 7i 8k 133 131 155 156 130 t3t 86 88 74 7:► 67 69 57 59 44 46 100 1(-2 116 )166 82 84 104 iO5 37 39 118 i 119 97 99 i 64 Gbh 12) '2l 337 3376 106 ,08 55 67 25 t 7 113 /14 ?I 72i 1 ,3 104 38 39 11 12 p' 9 10 120 125 16 2p 1 16 79 80 101 I.} 138 :42 58 6) 41j 43 t5l 8 9 163 168 34 44 110 38 40 1211 * 138 * 114 h 14 801 80 BRITISH POSSESSIONS. Railwayo Mantic & St LaNcrenc, tom.,Baroda&.Cent In , Gu. 5 per cent... Do. E. duffel° and Laae Huron Do. Preference duffalo,Brant,&Godricl s p. ot, bds. Aug. 1, 187. Do.' do. July 1, 187. Jo. do. June 1. 187 ncutta.&S.Eastn. (Li A )apeTown & Dock Seri Demerara 7 p.c. per. pf slastn. Bengal gu. 5 p. East Indian, cu. 5 p. Do. do. J Ext Grand Trunk of Catfailb Do. Equip. Mort. Bonds 1 charge 6 per cent. Do. let fret. Bonds Do. do. deferred Do. 2d Pref. Bonds.. Do. do. deferred...... Do. 3d Pref. stook ... Do. do. deferred...... Do. 4th Pref. stook... Do. do. deferred...... Gt.lndiarenln.gua.sp.e Do. Gus. 5 per cent.. Do. New gua. 5 p. 0... South.of India (Lim guaranteed 5 per cent. Do. 1/ per cent Do H. W. of Canada Sharer Do. New .. Do. 6 p.c. '73 with't opt. Do. 54 p. o. do. '77-8.. . Indian Branch Limited Madras. guar., 5 p. o. Do. 4# p. o. Extenslob Do; Do. Fifth Extension. )lelb.Corp. 6 p. o. BndB %Leib. & Hobson's Bay. .NrewßrUVawlektt Candx Class A an d 8.. N.ltl.C'da6 po let pf bdf Do. Delbl di Do. do Do. Punjaub e Do. Indue.St. Flo!) all 100 / 100 100 2 : 1:0 100 Closing Price. Paid. 58 60 1021 163 i idis ip 5 5i 8 9 75 80 98 100 8) 90 1021 1031 , 1031 /0411 21 22 84 91 70 72 61 (14 66 68 56 58 53 54 47 50 3) 32 28 30 1031 aO4l pr fp pr fp 101 103 9 98 116 11 , 88 60 80 62 1 6 d 1028 1031 96 08 91 93 59 Cl E 82 94 10 : 103 1024 103 k, d 1023 1 034 1 1 95 97 1041 4 4 stools FOREIGN MINES, Alamillos, limited, If Port Philip, 11.1 United Mexican Urn', 61 Yudanamutana of S. 'Australia, lim., 11 BAN lib. Alliance 17 6} Bank of British Columbia, 1R ' Bank of ctago, lira., 6 Brnk of Wales, lira., 15i British North Atherican. 484 9 Chartered of India, London, and China, 61} Imperial Bank (11m.). Hi is International B ttik, lira., 96 London Bank of Mexico and S. America, 11w., 7} London and County, 78:i London Joint Stock, 401 • Merchant Bank, lira., 284 Oriental Banx Corporation. 561 Provincial of Ireland, 89 111 Scinde, Punjaub, and Delhi, lim., 101 South Eastern, lira., 111 Union of Australia,:s4j Union of London, 56 6 7 MISCELLANEOUS. City Offices, lint, 45 Commerolal Union, Insurance, 85 Credit" Foncier and Mobilier of England, 81 Ditto (.C2), 5 5 Credit Fonder of Mauritius, lim., 611 Crystal Palace, 321 East Indian Financial , lim., 31 East India Irrigation and Canal, 65 Gen. Credit and Finance of London, lim., 6 1 7 Hudson's Bay, 164 Imperi,l Mercantile Credit A sso., Jim., B i r i International Financial society, lim., 71 1 Land Sedurities, lim . , 4 London General Omnibus Company, 3 Madras Irrigation and Canal, Ditto (all), 21 204 National Discount Company, lim., 16iii Ocean 51 urine Insurance), 254 Ottoman*Financial Association, lim., 6 . Royal Mail Steam.:9l Telegrach Construe. and Maintenance line., 2i Van Dienien'a Land, 9H , 481 7 1551 6 105 i 38 7i 120 1 f i 97 6 Business dont THE SUN, LO DON, 111IURSDA Y EVENING, DECEMBER 15, 1864. LAW INTELLIGEINICE—This Day. COURT OF DIVORCE. (Before the Judge (Winery and a Special Jury.) STONE V. STONE AND APPLETON., Mr Coleridge, Q.C., this morning summed up the evi dence on the pare of the respondent, and contended that the whole of the evidence entirely failed to substantiate the charges against the respondent. The learned gentleman then proceeded to comment upon the evidence that had been offered in the case. That of Susan Marks, as to the state of Mrs Stone's health, was strongly corrobora tive of the respondent's care, for nothing could be more unattractive than Mrs Stone's condition and illness at the time she was stated to be having continuous adulteries with Mr Appleton, a married man, with a wife at home and children to take care of. It was monstrous to think id Passing on to the evidence of Mr Deane Baker, it was strange that he should have gone down to Sidmouth as a " 'candid friend," as the late Mr Canning called such people, to ascertain the truth of the charge made by Mrs Stone against MI Appleton, when he had previously heard the statement of Susan Harris; and, if he had believed it, knew that Mrs Stone had almost hourly, and certainlY constantly, been guilty of most shameless adultery. With much feeling the learned counsel commented on the conduct of Mr Wayett, who, he said, forgot his duties as a clergyman in taking part against a woman who, it might have been thought, would have enlisted the sympathy of any man with even the heart of a fly; and if he, as a minister of Christ, went to his parishioners' houses to listen to and treasure up accusations against an unhappy woman in her distress and agony, the sooner clergymen, or rather, he (Mr Coleridge) ought to say, such clergymen, kept away the better. Adverting to the medical evidence, Mr Coleridge urged that it was abundantly proved that the assumption of the child of Mrs Stone being a seven months or a nine months' child was strongly in favour of the case for the respondent, and unless the jury were to think that the ordinary laws cf nature had been suspended to convict this unhapy and much injured woman. Mr Coleridge concluded a speech of great power and energy, and which occupied two hours in its delivery, by saying—l regret that in the full and, as I hope, only the conscientious discharge of my duty, I have so long detained you. I leave it in your hands. I ask you to tear asunder the dark cloud and cruel aspersions which have surrounded her case and been cast upon her by her own husband. Judge her as if it was your own case, and ask yourselves really and truly as sensible men how far you would like the reputation of any one you cared for, whether wife, sister, or daughter, to be blasted for ever upon the miserable evidence in this case. Judge her as you would judge yourselves: try this evidence in the crucible of your honesty of purpose and in the fidelity of your truth, and I am perfectly satisfied that Mrs Stone can have no fear as to the result. There was a burst of applause at the conclusion of the learned advocate's address. Mr Lopez (in the absence of the Queen's Advocate] replied on the part of Captain Stone, (The trial was proceeding when we went to press.) THE LATE STORMS. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--This Day. MARLBOROUGH STREET. A FATHER CHARGED WITH THROWING BOILING WATER OVER HIS DAUGHTER. —Thomas Beehar, a labouring man, living at No. 6, Long's-court, Leicester square, was charged before Mr Tyrwbitt with throwing a kettle of boiling water over his daughter, Susan Beehar, about 13 years of age. Mrs Annie Beehar, a respectable looking woman, the wife of the prisoner, said that last night her husband came home bringing with him something to, cook for supper. Her husband had been drunk every day and night for a week and had ill-used her a good deal. .While the supper was cocking her husband blew out the candle and then tried to knock her down, but was prevented. He then seized hold of a kettle of boiling water and threw it at her, and some of the water went on her daughter. In answer to Mr 1 yrwhitt, the wife said her husband was sometimes a teetotaler, and spent the money he saved while he was so when he got drunk. Susan Bechar, the prisoner's daughter, said that her father took up the kettle and threw it at her mother, and some of the boiling water went on her (witness's) face, in juring- her eye. She was taken to the hospital and had her eye attended to. Before her father took up the kettle he was goirg to strike her mothe r , b u t s h e p reven t e d hi m . . . _ The, prisoner said he did not intend to throw the water over the girt Mr Tyrwhitt said the prisoner was a savage fellow towards his wife and family, and he should order him to find one bail in £lO to keep the peace for six months. ROBBERY IN A TAVERN.—Henry Jackson, describing, himself as a greengrocer, of Paradise-place, Marylebone was charged with stealing a purse containing 16a. in postage stamps and Bs. in money, besides some papers of value from the person of Mr Wm. Tucker, carriage sales man, of No. 33, Earl-street, Edgeware-road. The prosecutor was very positive, the prisoner took the purse from his pocket, but the prisoner stoutly denied doing se. Mr Tyrwhitt committed the prisoner for trial, WESTMINSTER. DISTRESSING CASE.—Mary Eugenia Park, a very nice !coking little girl, only thirteen years of age, was placed at the bar charged with felony. Elizabeth Barn ord. lodginghouo2-keeper, 151, Tach brook-street, Pimlico, said that the prisoner had been in her service for three months, and left about the end of last July, About a wonth ago, having occasion for a shawl which had been put away at the end of last winter, ehe went to look for it, and then found that both that and a cloak were mizte ing. Su.pecting the prisoner to have taken the things, she sent to where she was living in service yesterday, and in consequence of what she learnt gave the accused into cus tody. The police proved that they received information and took the prisoner into custody, In consequence of a state ment she made they got the ticket of the shawl. Thomas Clarke, assistant at Mr Karsgood's, pawnbroker, Gloucester-terrace, Vauxhall-bridge-road, produced a shawl pledged on the 13th of July for ds in the name of Clarke. Prisoner admitted that she had pawned the shawl, and appeared very penitent. On being asked what had become of the cloak, she said she had pawned it, and given the ticket to a little girl, who had lost it. The little girl's mother told her that she could dispose of anything she brought there. The former part of this statement was confirmed, but the atter denied. Mr Arnold sent for the accused's father, and asked him if he would be answerable for her ( good behaviour for three months ? The father, an aged, respectable looking man, declined. Ho said that this was unfortunately not the first time his daughter had been guilty of dishonesty. He had tried everything, but could do nothing with her. Mr Arnold said he was very sorry, an 1 the law must take its course. The prisoner was very young, and he had thought her led away by bad advice and associates, and was anxious to have given her another chance by handing her over to her father to prevent her ruin. She was committed for three months. TO THE . EDITOR OF THE SUN. SlR.,—The limes not having inserted a letter on the above subject which I sent to that journal on the 10th inst., and as I consider such neglect, an ihjustice to the cause of pre dictive meterology, I beg of you to favour me with space in your valuable columns for the following paragraphs ex tracted from a letter received by me from a gentleman personally unknown to me : " Virginia-Buildings, Glasgow, Deo. 9, 1864. Dear Sir,—As Mr Allnatt t in his letter to the Timer of the 21 inst., in seeking for "weather prophets," as deserv ing such title for their successful prediction of the late storms, has singled out M. Mathieu de la Drown and M. Levenier, apparently not deeming any of his countrymen worthy of the honour, I think it but just to you to note the following gales which occurred in this neighbourhood, as in a great measure fulfilling the predictions (extending from 25th Nov to 7th Dec.) medo public by you in your work entitled " The Weather Guide Book," published about six months since ; and, as an additional proof of their correctness, I refer you to The Daily Review (Edinburgh) sent herewith. " Gales—Nov. 25, 27, 28, 29, 30—Dee. 2,4, 7. "Very wet on 21st and 22d November. High tempera ture (for the season) on the 28th and 29th of November. On the 30th atmospheric light, more fully seen at Dunbar. • . . . I observed that meteors were seen in England on 21st and 26th November.—l remain, dear Sir, yours truly, ",.5(1 =maul, J. BELL." The predictions referred to above were worded at pp. 119-20 of " The Weather Guide Book" (which you did. me 11. e honour to review in your impression of the 2d inst.) as follows : • Nov. 21. Strong wind and meteors. Nov. 22, Wet. Nov. 25. Strong wind. Nov. 26. Lightning or meteors. " Nov. 30 to Dec. 7. Very high temperature, followed by heavy hail or thunderstorms; then gales, electric disturb• ante, &c." A thunderstorm of great violence visited Arisvig" on Nov. 30, and destroyed the church tower, according to the Times of Dec. 10.—I am, Sir, your obedient servant, . ALFRED J. PEA.RCE, 12, Gloucester-street, South Belgravia, Dec. 15, Tit-bits from Punch. - THE MOST NOTORIOUS Times'-SERVERS OP THE PRE SENT DAY.—Messrs W. H. Smith and Co., of the Strand, and nearly every railway stall in the kingdom. GREAT SHOCE.—A lady we know was startled the other day by being told that some one was waiting below for her " body."—Dressmakers should be careful. THE PRESENT SPIRITUALISTIC EXCITEMENT.—The Ile-fuss fever. " Go IT, YE CRIPPLES I"—The foot-lights at Covent garden are to see a one-legged dancer engaged by the English Hopera Company. A proper step of the directors ? ARISTOCRATIC LOOKER-ON.—The Earl of Stair. APPROPRIATE TESTIMONIAL TO THE BROTHERS DA• VENPORT.—Two ropes'-ends—and the sack. WHO'S CUMMING ?—Christmas. MARKETS—This Day MARK-LANE. IMPERIAL WEEKLY AVERAGES. - Wheat, 38s 4d ; barley, 288 8d; oats, 19s 10d ; rye, 26s 7d ; beans, 37s 2d; and peas, 34s Ild. THE SIX WEEKS' AVERAGES. - Wheat, 38s 8d ; barley, 29s 6d; oats, 19s lld ; rye, 30s Ild ; beans, 37s 8d; peas, 368 2d. ENGLISH GRAIN SOLD LAST WEEK.--Wheat, 96,245 barley, 105,620; oats, 8,791; rye, 42; beans, 4,243 peas, 1,895 qrs, METROPOLITAN CATTLE. Our market to-day was seasonably well supplied with beasts both as to number and quality. All breeds sold freely, and Monday's prices were well supported. A few very superior Scots realised 6s, but the general top price was 58 10d per 81b. The show of sheep was very moderate. Sales progressed steadily at full quotations. The beat Downs and half-breds produced 6s per 81b. There were a few lambs in the pens, but they commanded scarcely any attention, Calves were in fair average supply and steady request at Monday's prices, viz., from 4s 4d to 5s 6d per Sib. Pigs were rather dearer, but milch cows were very dull. Per 81bs. to sink the offal. s. d. s. d. s. d. s d Ursa. &inf. beasts 3 10 4 6 Primeors.wool d 0.5 4 5 8 Second quality do. 4 8 6 2 Pme.S'thdowndo.s 10 6 0 Prime large oxen 5 4 5 8 Largo orse. calves 4 4 5 0 Prime Scots, &o. 5 8 6 10 Prime small do 5 2 6 6 Urse. & inf. sheep 4 0 4 8 Large hogs 3 6 4 4 Second quality do. 410 6 2 Small porkers 4 64 10 Lambs....os Od to Os Od. Suckling calves, 163 to 22s ; and quarter-old store pigs 21s to 26s each. TOTAL SUPPLY. FOREIGN SUPPLY, Beasts .... Cows l2O Sheep .. 9BO Sheep Calves 340 Pigs: Pigs. 720 MEAT MARKETS. NEIVGATE AND LIADBNEALL.—The supplies of meat are moderately good, and the trade is steady, as follows : Beef, from 3s Od to 4s 10d; mutton, 3s 10d to 5s Od ; veal, 4s Od to 4s 10d ; and pork, 3s 6d to 5s 2d per Sibs by the carcase. SOUTHALL, Deo. 14.—The supplies of stock were only moderate for the time cf year. Generally speaking, the trado ruled steady, as follows :—Beet, from 3s 10d to 5s 68 ; mutton, 48 Od to 68 Od ; veal, 4s 4d to os Od; and pork, 3e 10d to 4s 104 per 81bs, to sink tho ROMFORD, Dec. 14,—Prime stock sold readily on higher terms ; otherwise, the trade was far from active. Beet from 3s 8d to 5s 10d; mutton, 4s Od to 6s d ; veal, 4s 2d to 58 Od ; and pork, 4s Od to 4s 10d per Sibs. Suckling calves, 17s to 20s ; quarter old store pigs, 20s to 258; and milch oows, £l6 Os to £l9 Os each. HAY MARKETS. SMITIIFIELD.—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 5s Od ; clover, £5 53 to £6 6a Od ; and straw, £1 Gs to £1 10a per load. A. fair demand. CUMBERLAND—Meadow!hay, £4 4s to £5 5s Od; clover, £5 68 to £6 6s Od ; and straw, £1 63 to £1 lOs per load, Supply moderato, WHITECHAPEL,—Meadow hay, £4 4s to £5 6s Od ; clover, £5 58 to £6 63 Od; and straw, £1 5s to £1 lOs per load. Trade steady. COAL MARKET. Pritre of Coat per Ten at the close of the market; s. d. Walls: End. Byass's Bebside West Hartley ....18 6 West Hartley 18 6 18Holywell Hastings Hartley ....18 6 Wylam lB 6 El. d. Walls End: South HetFon — 22 6i Kelp&Grange 21 91 SWPs at market Hetton .. 22 0 Heugh Hall 22 0 Kelloe . 2l 9 South Kelloe ' 22 3 Russel's Hetton 21 9 East Hartlepool 22 9 Hartlepool 22 3 Harton 20 3 Tunstall lt, 35; sold, 33, THAMES. TRAGICAL AFFAIR IN SHADWELL.—Antonio Alexander, an Italian seaman, aged 20, was brought hfore Mr Par tridge, charged with cutting and wounding George Smith, a seaman, in a house of ill-fame, No. 13, Albert-street, Shadwell. Mr Charles Young, solicitorAdefended the prisoner. The man who is stabbed was removed to the London Hospital immediately after he vias stabbed in the abdomen, He is in a very precarious condition. It was rumoured in the district, in which considerable excitement prevails, that he was dead. We believe there is no possibility of his re.' covery, but it is the opinion of Mr Grubb, the house surgeon of the hospital, that hemay live a few days. The certificate handed to Mr Partridge, and signed R. T. Grubb, stated that Smith had received two wounds, one in the abdomen and one in the chest,' and that he was in great danger therefrom. It appeared from the evidence that the Italian visited a woman of the class called unfortunate, in Albert-street, at one o'clock this morning, and that a quarrel took place be tween him and Smith, in the course of which the prisoner took a sheath-knits from his pocket and plunged it into the abdomen of the man Smith, and as he was falling hit him again on the chest. The prisozler immediately absconded, went home to his lodgings in iSutton-street, Commercial road, packed up all his things and sea kit, and hired a cab, in which he proceeded to a coffee-house in Drummond-street, Easton-square. When the cab returned, Paul Orchard, t police-constable, 321 K, whose conduct is descrying of great praise (and who saw the prisoner leave his house before the intelligence of the affair reached him), asked tie driver where he had taken the Italian. "To a coffeeshsp in Drummond - street," was the reply. "Then drive natiback there directly," said the policeman, "and as fast as lour horse will take me." On reaching the coffee-house In Drummond-street, Orchard heard that the foreigner ofwhom he was in search was in bed. Orchard immediatelyiproceeded to his apartment and took i rc to custody. The prisoner intended to proceed first morning train. 3 there was a quarrel in the h o u se the h prisoner Charles es Liverpools one y ro Young into n gbs yai? in Albert-steet, and the ptisoner was beset by three men who offered to fight him. The feud was concerning the woman halting. The prison e r f ear i ng that he s t h h o e ul l d ta b l e ia r n was obbed taok outlis knife and used it. division, said •it was neces sary Inspector tpheacttotrhelt°dbeeprotsBhoof t7h' n cf the wounded man should b e taken as early as possible.t Mr Partridge said he whild proceed to the London.Hos pitalslirectly he had dispeed of the nightcharges. belonged to the:Confederate sh T p he F p l r o i r s i o d n a er ;a w ke h n o i f rit r h i ra harbour, was formally re manded for a week. Hethas been here three weeks and received £l5, the wages dt o to him on his arrival. THE ALBERT ORMAN ASY LUM,-- public meeting held at tho M Yeaterday at a Mansion -house, the Lord Mayor in the chair, a new asylitn for the reception of orphans, committee, comprising sotiewas set on foot. The managing a n a s e t d i °:' suitableof the principa lbuilding merchants near Bag a h a a n + d , a cost of £15,000, including the expense of furnishing. Al. .oport was read which stated that citizens, w w with t2hoeo aboveha c a r v e e p a ci a f e r s c i hg land, a t thereere were were Alan children now waiting to be admitted into such nearly numbersia 2ti,no itutions, and it was argued that if h of children for whom friends were can vassing to obtain ad there g 0 i o iLl ri kission, there must be thousands in a less hopeful poeitier?who had no one to take up their cause. It was b rescue lese abs Jlutely destitute children that the new institution kad been established. The children to be admitted after the first 100 will be from six to 12 years old, those who h ave l os t b o th p aren t s , large, motherless girls will also be ad mitted. is Inid an.d a The family th e girls iwrlisil b will be tr a i ne d i n needlewor k an d to b e . Where te come thorough servants and an elementary knowledge of carpentering, tailoring, ehoemt-king, and gardening, com bined with religious all intellectual instruction will be imparted. On the 29.11 of Nov., 50 boys and 60 girls were elected, of all religious dpttominations, and the Committee contemplate extending the building so as to accommodate 1,000 inmates- They hope to receive 200 children every year until that number is complete. The claims of such an in stitution to public sy.npathy and support were eloquently urged by Mr aiambers,. the Common Sergeant, Dr Dobell, Mr Sheriff Bexley, Mr Sheriff Dakirt, Mr Goechen, and Lord Calthorpo. Resolutions were passed, one of which was to the effect that the asylum was established for the benefit of thoroughly destitute orphan children, a class for whom comparatively little provision was made, and as a practical memorial for perpetuating the memory of the late Prince Consort claimed the sympathy of all classes of the community. Towards the close of the meeting a long list of donations was read, amounting altogether to upwards of '47,000. REGISTRATION OF TITLE ASSOCIATION.—The Committee of the " Registration of Title Association" held a meeting at the Commercial Buildings, Dublin, on Saturday last, the 10th inst. The chair was taken by Colonel Knox Gore, Lieutenant of the County Sligo. The following members were present—Sir George L'Estrange, Bart.; Jonathan Pita, Esq.; A, C. Lambert, Esq., D.L. ; Captain Lindsay; John Leahy, Esq., Q.C., Chairman of Quarter Sessions; Thomas H. Todhunter; R. Denny Urlin,i examiner, Lauded Estates Court; James Wilson, High Sheriff, County Longford ; William Read ; W. F. Littledale; W. Lane joynt ; and F. 1). Raynolds, Honorary Secretary of the Stock Exchange, and Henry Dix Hutton, Barrister.at-Law. honorary secretaries, Esqs. Mr Hutton stated that the committee had been called together in order to consider the 0011110 which should he taken by the associatiot with referenci to the Bill for recording Titles —introduced, on behalf of tho Government, by the Attorney General for Ireland. There seemed much cause for con gratulation as regards the progress made by the movement, esPvcislly with irrei once to the Government Bill. This contained 'some excellent provisions; but at the same time left room;for considerable improvements. To point out both the one and tho other was the ohj-ct of the draft report which Mr Hutton had prepared as the legal Secretary of the committee, and now submitted for their approval. The report was unanimously directed to be printed and circu. toted. The statement of accounts for the past year was brought forward by Mr Todhunter, auditor to the associa tion.' Several other resolutions having been passed, the meeting separated, A CAPITAL BIT OF FUN. (Meaning the New Christmas Number of it !) The longest-lived of all the rivals of Punch—the one only prosperous rival of Punch—not a " Shil ling's worth of Nonsense" but OM Penny's worth of Furl comes out just now so hilariously close upon the eve of Christmas that, looking at it, we some how seem to see it double ! Yes, sure enough, in the left-hand corner of it—under date Decem. ber 15, 1864, " Price Twopence." The Christmas Number of "FUN" it ie, in fact, and—as our head ing intimates—A Capital bit of Fun, too 1 To begin with, a thoroughly original little comical story, about a regular Yankee Munchausen, one Zll3 Sump—written by that right-good story teller, Captain Mayne and entitled (with a sort of a Sindbid illustration at the top of it) " Trapped in a Tree : a Back. wood's Adventure." After that—an extravagantly ridiculous celebration of " The Cattle Show" by Oar special Bocolic Commissioner. Four comic cats—every one of them really and truly comical— in the middle of this excellent number of Fun for Christmas. Here . (in proof of their having "something" in them—that is, in the way of real comicality) are the themes of these four principal cuts of Fun in the way of embellishment. OH, THE CLIVER DHRAB I—Mistress : " Why, Bridget, surly you are not wiping your hand on the drawing-room tablecloth ?" Bridget : " Sure, 'tis on the dark part, mum ; an' I was but dustin' the dhriftin' dirt off a the nand o' me, for fear when I'd be washing I might make a baste of a mess on the clans towel below,"—[ AL:dress is perfectly satisfied, of course.] KNIGHT OF THE BROOM to professional friend, alluding to De Brown's cigarette (loq )—" Hi, Villiam, 'ere's a curiosity 1 'ere's a 'eavy swell a smokin' brown paper I" MUCH TOO CRUEL.—(Florence reproachfully)—" Oh 1 Cousin Tabby, for shame; you are really too cruel; 'here is another evening gone, and leap-year nearly over, and you have not yet proposed." LADY -" Well, Freddy dear, did you share the sixpence gave you last time with your little sister ?" FREDDY DZAR--" Yee, M'm." Lady—" And what did she say ?" Freddy dear—" She said, perhaps you'd give us a sh ling this time." Two other rather funny pictures there are (neither of them, however, nearly so well drawn as the four just mentioned)—under one of which we read— " Consolation.—lnvalid (after a lull in conversation) —Well, Biil, what are yon thinking about ? Friend (who has called to cheer him up)—Well, Jae, I was thinking what a precious long coffin you would take "—and under the other—" Small• Beer— . (vociferously)—Ere Porter ! Porter ! Porter ! Somewhat obese functionary—Now Then, stow that, can't yer ! If you was stout how would you like to be called Porter P' To wind all up befittingly, with a very odd sort of an enforcement of the old proverb, "laugh and grow fat," FuN's Christmas Number ends with a ridieu• lousily laughter-moving celebration of Bantingism. AN AUTHOR'S EXPLANATION. Mr. G. A. Sala's '. Quite Alone." The following completely satisfactory explanation of a curious little incident in Modern Authorship, is the Advertisement prefixed to Mr. Sala's new novel," Quite Alone"—the story recently completed under unusual circumstances in All the Year Round, and issued from the press by Messrs. Chap man and Hall in its completed form as a three volumed novel, only this very day, the 15th of De cember. Mr. Sala's Explanation, as given in this " Advertisement" we have spoken of as com. pletely satisfactory. And it, surely, must prove so to every one—but himself! Certainly to the public at large, to Mr. Charles Dickens, to the Messrs. Chapman and Hall, to that anonymous "other Land" of whom Mr. Sala speaks as of a collaborateur. Havisg said which, we commend the following to very general perusal, as the last Aerap of pleasant writing endited by a Sixteen Years' Favourite among English lovers of Light Literature : ADVERTISEMENT. The concluding portion of these volumes—that is to say, from page 185, vol. iii., to the end--is not mine. " Quite Alone" has been finished during my absence from Eng land by "another hand." It is now my duty, in fair ness to the public, and in justice to my publishers and myself, briefly and candidly to explain how it has como about that a work put forth under my name contains many pages not written by me. I will at once drop the convenient, but very frequently disingenuous, plea of ill health. I was, it is true, when I left this country more than a year since, exceedingly unwell, and have had since then several attacks of in fluenza, a calenture or two, a low fever, and a touch of what seemed to be premonitory of the vomito mgro ; but, on the whole, I have been no more an invalid than could be expected in the case of a traveller rushing from one trying• climate to another, and have, thank God, "kept my health" in a remarkable degree. When I quitted home, in November, 1863, the novel of " Quite Alone" was about halt finished. It was entirely owing to the exceptional kindness of Mr Charles Dickens that its publication was commenced in " All the Year Round:" it being, I believe, the rule with the proprietors of that periodical never to commence a serial story with out the whole of the manuscript having come into their hands, But Mr Dickens was good enough t 3 hope, and I was sanguine enough to believe, that I could, within four or five months from the date of my departure, remit to him the concluding portion of the work, lam sure I did my best to bring about this consummation, so de sirable to us both ; but I signally failed. Page by page, like so many drops of blood, abatit two hundred slips of manuscript oozad from me between spring and summer. They were written with a hard lead penoil on slips of carbonised paper placed upon dam% I was obliged to "manifold" my manuscript, to guard against the uncer tainties of the post. They were written at intervals of many days, and of thousands of miles, They were written in a hammock in Cuba, onboard steamers, in railway cars, in hotel verandahs, in the midst of noise, confusion, smoke, cursing and swearing, battle, murder, and sudden death. In the month of August I broke down altogether, and the mails went out without any more of my tissue paper. I had lost the thread of my narrative. I had forgotten the very names of my dratnaiis personce, I was in a new coup• try—a new world, among strange scenes and strange people, hurrying from place to place, badgered and baited and hated, always abused, often in peril of my life, and under all hazard compelled to send home every week from six to eight columns of matter to a London newspaper. To those who may accuse me of idleness or carelessness, I can only plead that I was the correspondent for 12 months in the United States and Mexico of the Daily Telegraph. As regards " Quite Alone," I had undertaken a task which I was utterly unable to acoompli,h. It was the Thirteenth labour of Hercules ; the last straw; and it broke my back. When I endeavoured subsequently to catch up the lost link I found that it was too late. The conductors of " All the Year Round," reduced to desperation by the non-arrival of any more copy, and anxious to keep faith with their readers, confided my unfinished story to "another hand," by whom it was brought to a close, sans bien que mai Till I returned to Engtand I never knew who that other hand was. Under the circumstances it is impossible for me to complain of the manner in which the selection was made ; and I am sure that I am infinitely beholden to the gentle. man who, at a very brief notice, addressed himself to such an unthankful task. • Returning, then, to commence fresh labours and incur fresh literary responsibilities, I found, to my dismay, that " Quite Alone*,' was advertised for re-publication in a col lected form. In common justice to Messrs. Chapman and Hall, in whose interest the book was originally projected, I could not deny my consent to its being so re-published. Those gentlemen had treated me throughout with infinite liberality, courtesy, and forbearance, and I.felt that I had no right to spoil their market and to keep their capital lying dead, when the delay to which they had been sub jected was due simply to my own laches. In conclusion, I beg respectfully to say that if the public will !lesiva the first edition of " Quite Alone.; in a tolerant and charitable spirit, and if the demand for it should warrant the issue of another edition, it will be my duty and pleasure to complete it according to the original plan mapped out, and to the very best of my ability. And that charity and tolerance I am confident enough to hope for from a public whose laborious servant I have been for sixteen years. GEORGB AUGUSTUS GALA. 61, Guildford-street, Russell-bquare, _ . ....... December, 1864. At the Central Criminal Court yesterday Alfred Thomas Jackson was tried on the charge of murder ing a fellow-workman named Roberts in Clerkenwell. The jury found him guilty of manslaughter, and he was sen tenced to penal servitude for life, Another case tried during the day was that of Mr. Withers. He was charged with having cmsed the death of Mary Duthie, It will be re membered that she rushed into the street, in Barbican.. with her dress in flames. She was so much injured that she died a few days afterwards in the hospital. Before her death, however, she stated that she had met with the acci dent while endeavouring to escape from Withers, her em ployer, who wished to take liberties with her. Upon this he was charged with manslaughter. The jury yesterday acquitted him, OUR WIDOWED QUEEN, (From the Times.) Yesterday was the third anniversary of the death of the late Prince Consort, and it was marked by a touching ceremonial. Her Majesty and the younger members of the royal family visited the beautiful mausoleum which has been erected over the Prince's remains, and paid a fresh tribute of affec tion to his memory. It seems but the other day that the Queen and the nation suffered this great be reavement, but in the meantime how many changes have taken place I In the Queen's own family the Prince of Wales has passed from youth to manhood, and now there is an heir to the throne in the second generation. One more daughter has left her royal mother's house for a foreign home. In the affairs of the world there has been constant movement— wars and revolutions, immense social and commer cial activity—bringing ever new duties to all classes and particularly to those who stand highest and are nearest to the throne. Yet the lapse of time has not yet brought a due alleviation of sorrow to the chief sufferer. Oppressed by a great grief, her M jesty has retired from the world, and devoted her lite to recollections of the past. Never has a husband been more justly mourned than the eminent man who was so suddenly snatched away three years since; but in all bereavements there is a time when the days of mourning should be looked upon as past. The living have their claims as well as the dead ; and what claims can be more imperative than those of a great nation and the society of one of the first European capitals? We might also speak of her Majesty's own youthful family, whose introduction into the social life which belongs to their station depends on the resumption by the Court of its ordie nary habits. But we will confine ourselves to the public functions which the occupant of the throne may be expeCted to fulfil, and ask, in all duty and loyalty, whether the time has not now come when they should once more be performed in person. fhe Queen's most loyal subjects are precisely those who think it is not a matter of indifference whether the Sovereign should be seen and take part in pub lic matters and .in social intercourse. No reigning House can afford to confirm in their views those who suggest that the Throne is only an antiquarian relic and Royalty itself a ceremony, who think that the less that is seen or heard of a Court the better, The great mass of the nation are, happily for the interests of Royalty, not of this opinion. They desire that the highest personage in the realm, the hereditary chief magistrate, should even in political affairs use an individual judgment and a discretion apart from the counsels of any set of politicians. The balance of the Constitution depends, in fact, on the Sovereign being able on certain occasions to rise superior to party suggestions and stand as the re presentative of the nation and the guardian of the Executive. But for any Sovereign to be able to fulathis high duty when required, a proper inter course with the world and a knowledge which seclu sion soon loses are absolutely necessary. The Court of England in recent times has always been so con ducted as to give the Sovereign a familiarity with the most trustworthy opinions of the time by means of intercourse with the ablest and most respected persons in the land. To relinquish these.mettes of learning what English people think and feel on all subjects, to dry up the sources of e that Royal tact which is the most valuable quality a constitutional Sovereign can possess, is to abandon something of the prerogative of the Crown. It is impossible for a recluse to occupy the British throne without a gradual weakening of that authority which the Sovereign has been accustomed to exert. The re gulation of a household may be in the power of such a ruler, but the real sway of an empire will be im possible. For the sake of the Crown as well as of the public, we would, therefore, beseech her Ma jesty to return to the personal exercise of her exalted functions. Law or usage, it is true, dis- penses with the Royal presence, and allows every public act to be performed by deputy. The Queen may open Parliament by commission,. and, to speak of less important matters, she can make a Knight of the Garter by proclamation, or hold a levee by deputy. But these substitutions are intended for extraordinary, and not for ordinary occasions. In the early days of her Majesty's reign nothing was more gratifying to the public than to learn that there was a Royal Speech at the open• ing or close of the session, and not a Message. Equally beneficial was it to the interests of the Con stitution that with the chief enterprises of the day the name of the Queen should be connected. Whether it was an industrial exhibition, or a naval review, or a new public building, it pleased the people and strengthened the Throne when her Ma jesty was on the spot as the chief patroness of the work. Such influences have a constitutional value in a State like ours. It is also fair to say that the society of England requires its chief hostess and its natural leader. In every country where Royalty exists, and moulds the manners of the wealthier classes, there is an attraction in the presence of a Court the failure of which becomes a public want. It 'may be that in time the London season may accustom itself to do withcat the Palace, but it is not desirable that we should attain that point o Republican simplicity. For every reason we true, that, now that three years have elapsed and every honour that affection and gratitude could pay to the memory of the Prince Consort has been offered, her Majesty will think of her subjects' claims and the duties of her high station, and not postpone them longer to the indulgence of an unavailing grief. A Real Ghost Story. (From the Caledonian Mercury.) We commend the following to the notic; Of some of the many publishers of readings for Christmas. The simple facts transpired in a parish in Roxburghshire this present month about midnight, between a Saturday and Sunday• It was moonlight but cloudy, hence the night was some times clear and at other times nearly pitch dark—in fact, it was such a night as witches, warlocks, and ghosts used to delight in, and it seemed to our informant that one of these supernatural visitants actually made its appearance in the said pariah at the time above mentioned, and the place was the churchyard. But to begin at the beginning of the story, as it was narrated to us by a respectable person who lived in a cottage hard by the scene, and who with his wife and family also got a fright. They had just retired to rest fur the night. There was no light in the room but the flickering light of the dying embers of the fire in the grate, when suddenly the door opened, and an elderly woman rushed into the room. She was almost oat of breath, and sat down almost exhausted on the nearest seat. She nearly fainted away. The guidfolks of the house recollected that they had for gotten to lock the door, and thought it must be some human being in great distress who had run into their house for protection. They gave her a drink td revive her, and when she came round a little, in answer to the question what ailed her ? she muttered out amidst long drawn sighs, that "she thought the time had gaen by fur ghosts, but she had seen ane the nicht." In this way she proceeded to tell how she had gone to pay a visit to her dear departed husband's grave, for there was naebody like her John. He was aye dear to her, and now that lie was away there was nane to fill his place, and she never felt happy unless when she was beside him. Aye, his very dust wa s dear to her, and she could spend whole nights beside him yet, though he had been buried now for months. She said she had often before gone and stood beside his tombstone for hours, and no one had fashed her till that night, when she had got sic a gliff that she thought she would not get over it. " Oh, me," said she, " that awfu'-looking man. It wasna ma John. Na, na, ma John had nae ugly-looking, black face like you; and then the awfu' man never spoke a word, but made sic unearthly sounds, and pointed wi' his hands whiles up and whiles down, that I didna ken whether he was frae aboon or be• low, and he made a' sorts of queer manoeuvres. He put his hands up to his he'd, and looked for a' the world like the black fella wi' his horns. It wasn't pia John, I am sure, for he wadna hoe ghffad me that way, and then he would have spoken to me that I coati ha' kenned what he said ; but that awfu' man wi' a' his screeching, and boobooing, and shaking o' his head and hand didna speak in our tongue. Oh, that awfu' man, his black heavy face is hunting me yet, and where he came from I c inns ken either, I am sure. He didna come in at the gate nor ower the wa'—he just started up before me out o' John's grave, but he wasna ma John. I dinna ken how I got away from that awfu-like apparition, or how I cam here. Where am I ? So when she had finished her story it was plain she had had a severe shock to her nerves. The family into whose house she came, when they got a light, knew her to be a respectable woman, and when she was more composed the goodman kindly volunteered to accompany her home. On the way they were met by the decent woman's son, who had been searching everywhere for his mother; and knowing that she frequently visited the churchyard thought that she might possibly , late as it was, have gone there, for she had been rather deeply affected by the loss of her husband; so much so, that there was no consolingi her, and there: was no keeping' her away from the grave when she could get away. It . seems, however, that she had got such a fright by that visit that she would not soon seek back to a haunted c hurchyard. We can only guess at a solution of the my sterious apparition. A deaf. and dumb man with busby black beard and moustache lodges in a dwelling ove rlookin g the burying ground. He may have seen the disconsolate woman there, and out of pity for her h a d gone to advise her to go home; but hie E t r auga appearance, want of speech, and the signs mad e with his hands may have added to the poor woman's terror, her heated imaginf , tion doing the rest. The two Chambers of the Swiss Federal Assem• bly met three d 458 ago to elect the President of the Confederation for 1865. M. Shenk, of Berne, Vice-President of the Federal C ounc il for 1864, was chosen by 105 votes to 26. M. Knusel, of Lncern, was afterwards elected Vice-President by 86 votes to 45. AQUATICS. SCULLER'S RACE FOR £4O. A race for the above amount came off yesterday from Putney to Barnes Railway Bridge, for £2O a side, between Edward May of Vauxhall, and Edward Carter of Lam beth. Betting was 2tol on Carter. David Coombes was Carter's umpire, and Harry Kelley showed him up; Harry Salter looked after May, and G. Dreveitt was his pilot. Mr Charles Newnham was referee. They were half au hour getting away, Carter with the station, and a level start was at length effected. A fine level race ensued for 200 yards, and then May went ahead. He was too clear lengths at the Dung Wharf, where he bored his man in shore, and tht,n crossed and recrossed. Nearing Crab Tree, he suddenly stopped quite exhausted, and Carter going by won with great ease in 25 minutes 30 seconds. Thus has the ex champion Kiley trained the winners of £l,lO en the river Thames in two following days. SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE—This day. -.-Ap--_ LONDON, Dec. 15. 7 —Wind this day at noon—South Easterly; moderate breeze, and cloudy weather, with a slight fog. MILFORD, Dec. 14.—Wind S.E.—Arrived—Due nate, from Newfoundland for Cardiff. Sailed—San steamer, for Jamaica. FALMOUTH, Dec. 13.—Wind S.W.—Arrived--S packle , from Calcutta. PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 14.—Wind S.W.—Arrived—Chal lenger, from London for Shanghai. (BY MAGNETIC TELEGRAPH.) GRAVESEND, Thursday Morning. Arrived, Dec. 14—Furet, from Gravelines—Meteor, fiont Petersburg—lda Engelsken, from Emden; Ark, from Dantz;g—Calcutta, steamer, from Calcutta. Arrived, Dec.—Cavon, from Hudickswall—Augusta and. Aurora, both from Emden—Express, from Helsinborg— Concordia and Emilio, both from Groningen—Ann and John, from Lanskrona. Sailed—Triton, steamer, for Boulogne. DEAL, Thursday Morning. Passed, Dee.l4—Maria, for Demerara—Laiy Broughton, for Caps of Good Hope—Night Watch, for Mogador— Eaglet, for Oporto—Flying Cloud, for Moreton Bay—all, from London. Passed, Dec. 15—Aurora, screw steamer, from London for Bordeaux—Harold, from Shields, for Naples. Liverpool Cotton Market—This Day Market quiet. Sales, about 5,000 bales. THE ARTS CLUB.—The annual dinner of this club took place yesterday evening at its house in Hanover square. The chair was filled ty Mr Thomas Hughes, and about sixty gentlemen (the necessary limit) sat down tQ dinner. The proceedings were as little formal as possible, and after "Prosperity to the Club," "Art," "Literature," ica., had been given, the members present adjourned to the conversezione afterwards held in their rooms upstairs. Several fine oil paintings, portfolios of water colours, and other works of art were exhibited by various members of the club. This interesting gathering, which was success ful in every way, did not break up until early this morn ing. Amongst those present were—Mr Horace Jones (vice-, chairman), Mr F. W. Burton, Mr Val Prinseps, Mr- Edmund Yates, Mr A. F. Cockerell, Mr F. Walker, Mr J. C. Parkinson, and Mr Tom Angell (hon. sec.). LORD PALMERSTON.—The political life of Lord Palmerston has been longer than that of any states man of the present century at home or abroad. That of Prince Metternich lasted 54 years, from 1791 to 1848 ; that of Count Nesselrode also the same number of years—viz., from 1802 to 1856; that of the Duke .of Wellington little more than 45 years, dating from the time when he was Chief Secretary in Dublin to his death; that of Sir R. Peel even less still. But Lord Palmerston entered the House of Com mons in 1806, and has held office, with very slight inter missions, since 1807, or seven years more than half a tens Onee a Week. THE MONT CENIS TUNNEL.--In a highly inte. resting article by Emile Level, in this fortnight's Revue Contenzporaine, we find some curious details about the piercing of the tunnel between Modena and Bardoneche. It is well known that the whole length of the tunnel, wheri completed, will be 12,200 metres. The machine used for the purpose is M. Sommelier's perforator, set in motion by com pressed air. It consists of a piston working horizontally in a cylinder, and carrying a chisel fixed upon it like a bayonet, which at each stroke dashes with violence against the rock to be pierced. Each time the chisel recoils, it turns round in the hole, and as the latter is sunk deeper and deeper, tha frame or shield, which carries, not one, but nine perlorators, advances in proportion. While the chisel is doing its work with extraordinary rapidity, a copper tube of small diameter keeps squirting water into the hole, by which means all. thew rubbish is washed out. behind the shield there is a tender, which, by the aid of a pump set in motion by compressed' air, feeds all these tubes with water, The noise caused by the simultaneous striking of all the chisels against the rock _ _ is absolutely deafening, enhanced as it is by the echo of the tunnel. All at once the noise ceases, the shield recedes behind it, and the surface of the, rock is perceived riddled with 80 holes, varying in depth between 80 and 90 centi metres. These holes are now charged with cartridges, slow matches burning at the rate of GO centimetres per minute are inserted, and the workmen retire in haste. The explo sion seems to shake the mountain to its roots ; when all is over the ground is fouad covered with fragments of the rock, and an advance equal to the depth of the holes has been ob.. tained. On the Brandoneche side this year the average ad vance per month has been 50 metres; on the Blodane side it has not exceeded 38 metres per month, owing to the greater hardness of the rock on that side; there still re mains a length of about B,2sometres to go through, "it hen completed the tunnel will have required the piercing of 1,200,000 holes, 550,000 kilogrammes of gunpowder 1,660,000 metres of slow match; the number of bayonets rendered unserviceable will amount to 2,450,000.-6'a/Ig nani's Messenger. A NEW DODGE.—A correspondent of the Times writes as follows :—On Friday night, about six o'clock, I was walking near Covent-garden, when a man came up to me and, presenting a small piece of paper, asked me if I oould tell him where that was. I concluded that he wished me to tell him what I thought was an address on the paper. While trying to make out this address by the aid of the gaslight, I thought I felt something touch my waistcoat pocket, and, looking down, I saw my watch- Chain dangling loose, whereupon I immediately knocked the inquirer down, and seizing him by the throat demanded my watch. This was at once restored to me, and the fel low escaped, unluckily. LIVERPOOL FAT CATTLE SHOW.—This show opened yesterday in a large shed on the grounds of the Zoological-gardens, Liverpool. There were 250 entries of stock, and in every class the show was remarkably fine, being much superior to the last exhibition. Among the winners of prizes for cattle were the Earl of Derby (High land oxen) and Lord Skelmeradale (shorthorned heifers) — sheep, Mr G. S. Foljambe (Leicester wethers and South down wethers), Mr James Nicholson (Cheviots), and Mr Allan rollok (Irish wethers)--pigs. Earl of Sefton (large breed), Earl of Derby (small breed), and Mr Thomas Crisp, Suffolk, four prizes (cup for best pig, middle, small, and large breeds). DISAGREEABLE HOAXING.-My father's quarrels with Prescott never last.long, nor did they with Captain Craycraft, who commanded the Nymph, and in the Daphne was taken prisoner and confined in France. I remember on one occasion Craycraft being sent out at Berkeley Castle with my brother Henry on . a particular beat, on which they were forbidden to shoot anything but woodcocks and rabbits. As they caine back by the outer gate of the castle, lay brother Moreton being on the watch for their return, the captain called out, and showing him a full game bag with some pheasants' tails sticking out, told him to run in to Lord Berkeley and say they had been shooting pheasants. Moreton did so, Craycraft taking very good care to go first into the castle, in order that he might ascend to a safe place, and from the ladies' tower, over the inner gateway, observe the effect of his practical joke, Henry came into the outer court, and my father, in a rage, rushed from his gunroom or study, and seizing the bag furiously turned out the contents, which consisted of nothing but rabbits with pheasants' tail feathers somewhat quaintly attached to them. It was long before Craycraft ceased laughing at the hoax he had 80 successfully played.—Grahtiey Ber keley's Life and Recollections. ARRIVAL OF SPECIE FROM MEXICO.-ST. NA. ZAIRE, October 16.—The steamship Lousiana has arrived here from Mexico with 5,000,000 fr,, 2,000,000 fr• of which are on account of the French Government. About £65,000 in gold was taken i n t o the Bank yesterday, but 302,000 sovereigns Were with„ drawn. The last week's railway receipts, ascertained - up ,o this day, are in round figures as under : 1864. 186 3 . Great Western ....................X63,958 £60,708 North-Western ................. ...10 2 , 381 95 ' 385 South-Western Brighton Midland South Eastern.... Great Northern Lancashire and Yorkshire.. 31,340 35,010 Bristol and Exeter .. 6,194 5,811 North-Eastern 69,243 65,587 Manchest er , Sheffield, a nd Lincoln ' 17,324 17,614 31,667 30,707 Great Eastern ............ These returns aro in one or two instances of a less satisfactory character. On the Lancashire and Yorkshire there is a decrease of 040'; Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincoln, £290; South Western, £417 ; Greet Western, however, shows tin increase of £3,250; North Western, £6,996',; Brighton, £1,476 ; Midland, £4,402; South Eastern,. £343; Great Northern, £1,954; Bristol and E%eter, £383; North Eistorn, £4,656; Rnd the C.4.%1' Eastern, £950, Share 13.111. char, Sk I 20 20i 10 too stock stook 20 stook V.O 100 100 too 100 100 too 100 100 stook stook ,4 tool. stock 8 i 1031 1311 73 Ic4l 4 - 71